Joe Beimel Information & Joe Beimel Links at HealthHaven.com

**Joe Beimel**
Joe Beimel
;
	Free Agent — No. --
	Relief pitcher
	Born: April 19, 1977 (age 32); St. Marys, Pennsylvania
Bats: Left	Throws: Left
MLB debut
	April 8, 2001 for the Pittsburgh Pirates
Career statistics; (through July 17, 2009)
Win-Loss	21-28
Earned run average	4.25
Strikeouts	281
Teams
	Pittsburgh Pirates (2001-2003); Minnesota Twins (2004); Tampa Bay Devil Rays (2005); Los Angeles Dodgers (2006-2008); Washington Nationals (2009); Colorado Rockies (2009–present);

Joseph Ronald Beimel (pronounced "BUY mul") (born April 19, 1977 in St. Mary's, Pennsylvania) is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher who is currently a free agent.

[edit] Amateur career

Beimel attended St. Mary's Area High School and was a letterman in football, wrestling, basketball, and baseball. He played two seasons of junior college baseball at Allegany College of Maryland in Cumberland, Maryland and one season at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh. Six former Allegany College players have made it to Major League Baseball. Beimel was the fifth Major League Baseball player to come out of the Allegany College of Maryland program. The five other Allegany Trojans to make the big leagues were John Kruk, Stan Belinda, Steve Kline, Scott Seabol and Scott Patterson. At Allegany, Beimel played for Junior College Hall of Fame Coach Steve Bazarnic. During Beimel's years at Allegany the Trojans advanced to the Junior College World Series both seasons. At Duquesne University he was the team leader in wins and complete games and was second on the staff in strikeouts and ERA. ^[1]

[edit] Professional career

[edit] Pittsburgh Pirates

He was drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 26th round after his freshman year in college but chose to remain in school. He was later selected in the 18th round of the 1998 draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates after his junior year and signed with the Pirates on June 5, 1998. He is the first pitcher drafted by the Pirates out of the Pittsburgh-based Duquesne University; he is the only pitcher to have made it to the Major Leagues. ^[2]

His minor league stops in the Pirates organization included their development level team in Erie (1998, 1-4, 6.32, 6 starts), their "A" ball team in Hickory (1999, 5-11, 4.43, 22 starts), their "A+" team in Lynchburg (2000, 10-6, 3.36, 18 starts, 2 CGs), and their "AA" team in Altoona (1-6, 4.16, 10 starts, 1 CG).

After a strong spring, he made the Pirates Major League roster at the start of the 2001 season. He made his major league debut as the starting pitcher on April 8, 2001 against the Houston Astros, pitching 5 innings, allowing 2 runs, and recording his first career victory. He appeared as both a starter and a reliever that season, finishing with a record of 7–11, era of 5.23 in 42 appearances, 15 of them as a starter.

He made another 8 starts on the 2002 squad but has been primarily used as a relief pitcher ever since. After finishing both the 2002 & 2003 seasons in the Pirates bullpen as an average middle reliever, the Pirates released him right before the start of the 2004 season.

[edit] Minnesota Twins

He was subsequently signed as a free agent by the Minnesota Twins on April 11, 2004. He spent the bulk of the season with Minnesota's Class-AAA Minor League affiliate in Rochester, where he had a mediocre season (2-4, 6.97, in 49 appearances). He made just three relief appearances for the Twins as a September call-up and then was released after the season.

[edit] Tampa Bay Devil Rays

Beimel was signed as a free agent by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays on November 5, 2004 and spent most of the 2005 season with their "AAA" team the Durham Bulls, rebounding by going 1-2 with a 3.93 era in 48 games. He made a few trips to the big leagues to pitch for the Devil Rays during the season, making 7 appearances with an era of 3.27.

[edit] Los Angeles Dodgers

Beimel pitching for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2008.

In 2006, he was signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers and became a valuable member of their relief corps, with a 2.96 era in 62 appearances, primarily as a late inning left-handed specialist. However, he has also been effective enough against right-handed batters to be used as both a set-up man and emergency closer, and proved remarkably effective when put into games to work the Dodgers out of jams. He wore #97 for the Dodgers, which at the time was the highest number ever used by a Dodger. The number represents the year of his first child's birth.^[3]

His successful season ended on a down note; right before 2006 divisional series between the Dodgers and New York Mets began, Beimel cut his hand on glass at a bar in New York. At first he claimed that it happened in his hotel room before divulging the truth after the Dodgers lost to the Mets three games to none. His unavailability in the bullpen hurt the Dodgers during the series. ^[4] Beimel was completely sober for 15 months following the incident and now drinks only occasionally. ^[5]

During the 2007 season, Beimel set a record for the Dodgers by making 83 appearances, the most by a left-handed pitcher in the Dodgers history.

During his first two years with the Dodgers, Beimel became known for his ability to get Barry Bonds out. Beimel held Bonds to 1-16 at the plate, with the one hit being a solo home run. He also only walked Bonds 3 times.

After the arrival of new manager Joe Torre, Beimel was forced to cut his hair, a situation similar to one Stump Merrill had with now-Dodger coach Don Mattingly when managing the New York Yankees.^[6]

[edit] Relationship with Fans

Joe gained a cult following in 2008 in a series of fan-made YouTube videos,^[7] specifically "The Legend of Joe Beimel."^[8] Heavily promoted on Los Angeles Dodgers fan site Dodger Blues,^[9] these videos have gained much notice on not only the internet, but in broadcasts and news media.

When the Dodgers conducted their second annual online fan vote during Spring Training to determine what player should be immortlized as part of the team's bobblehead promotions, Beimel took home the honors for 2008 after a strong Internet turnout, including a campaign that was orchestrated by his parents, Ron and Marge Beimel.^[10]

[edit] Washington Nationals

Beimel (right) before the Nationals home opener in 2009.

On March 18, 2009 Beimel and the Washington Nationals agreed to a one-year $2 million dollar deal; he will be their eighth inning set up man.^[11]

[edit] Colorado Rockies

On July 31, 2009, Beimel was traded by the Nationals to the Colorado Rockies for Ryan Mattheus and Robinson Fabian.^[12]

His entrance song is "God's Gonna Cut You Down" by Johnny Cash.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Joe Beimel

Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube

[0] OnTheBluff.com - Joe Beimel Named To DU Hall Of Fame

[1] Baseball-Reference.com, Duquesne Drafts

[2] MLB.com - Beimel feels at home with Dodgers

[3] MondesiHouse.Blogspot - Beimel spins tall tale

[4] Beimel appreciates second playoff chance

[5] ttp://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20080418&content_id=2547194&vkey=pr_la&fext=.jsp&c_id=la Press Release

[6] YouTube - troyfromwestvirginia's Channel

[7] YouTube - The Legend of Joe Beimel<! and "The Legend of Joe Beimel Part 2" in which Joe appeared which was a response to the first video.-- Bot generated title -->

[8] Dodger Blues Website

[9] Blue Heaven: NO WAY! Joe Beimel Gets a Bobblehead

[10] Nationals Reach Deal With Beimel ESPN, March 18, 2009

[11] Rockies acquire LHP Joe Beimel from Nationals

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